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10 Jul 2019  (834 Views) 
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Out of the box


Give up Singapore citizenship
Is there a serious flaw in our government policy that encourages citizens to give up their citizenship?

Let me share some thoughts. 

An average of 1,200 people give up their citizenship each year between 2007 and 2011. This was reported in 2012. I am not able to get the  figures for subsequent years. 
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/about-1-200-singaporeans-renounce-citizenship-annually-in-last-f-8444154

Why would these people give up their citizenship? Many countries allowed them to be permanent residents. They can still keep their Singapore citizenship.

Let me make a guess.

Perhaps, they give up their citizenship to have access to their CPF savings. This is stated here. 
https://dollarsandsense.sg/migrating-overseas-heres-what-would-happen-to-your-cpf-monies/

A property agent told me that many young people were able to make a profit of between $50,000 to $100,000 when they sell their HDB flat after the minimum occupation period of 5 years. A large part of this gain come from the government grant given to a first time buyer. 

The CPF grant can be as high as $105,000. See here.
https://www.icompareloan.com/resources/busting-myths-cpf-grants-buying-hdb/

When the owner sells the HDB flat, the grant has to be paid into the CPF. It is locked up until retirement.

However, if the member gives up the citizen, he can get the CPF savings.

I wonder if many of the people who emigrated gave up their citizenship so that they can get their CPF savings, including the profit that they made from the government grant.

If this is the case, I wonder why the government has a policy that seem to encourage citizens to give up their citizenship.

It will be interesting to see the profile of the people who have emigrated and given up their citizenship. This might give a clue to see the underlying reason, and to see if the government policy is indirectly encouraging the loss of citizens.

Tan Kin Lian

Vote - do you agree with my observation?


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